Season 1996-97

60TH SEASON

SEASON REPORT

This was the club’s sixtieth season, an event marked at the end of May by an inter-club friendly and a semi-veterans fixture versus Old Centmodians at the Recreation Ground in Icklesham followed by an evening function at the High Beech Hotel in St Leonards attended by over a hundred players, former players and guests.

1ST TEAM

On the field this was a difficult season. After a very poor start which saw the opening seven competitive games lost, the 1st XI manager jumped ship and not for the first time Martin Tytherleigh stepped into the breach and held things together. The transformation was not exactly immediate with Wadhurst United putting no less than twenty four goals past the side in two matches, but gradually league points started to accumulate. Four points were picked up against both Punnetts Town and Eastbourne Fishermen and later in the season a hard earned goalless draw with Rock-a Nore combined with a rare away victory over Hollington United ensured that relegation was avoided by a single point. In view of the earlier results, this was an exceptional achievement due in large part to an excellent team spirit which was apparent to any observer.

Goal scoring was a problem with only twenty eight goals scored all season in all competitions. Bob Baker recorded five of these to top the scoring chart but this was the lowest ever total for a leading scorer for the first team. Tony Forster was selected as a substitute for the East Sussex League Intermediate Representative XI against the West Sussex League XI at Lancing, the match being part of the League’s Centenary celebrations.

1ST TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
14/9/1996Hollington UnitedHomeLeague1 – 5Tim King
21/9/1996PolegateAwayLeague2 – 3Paul Field, Karl Tarrant
28/9/1996PolegateHomeLeague0 – 7
5/10/1996Willingdon AthleticAwayLeague2 – 8Bob Baker,
12/10/1996Royal HussarsHomeSussex Intermediate Cup 2nd Round1 – 3Dale Glazier
26/10/1996Old Minchendenians IIAwayA F A Intermediate Cup Preliminary Round2 – 3 *
2/11/1996Hollington UnitedAwayRobertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup 1st Round2 – 3Jim Taberman, Own Goal
9/11/1996Punnetts TownAwayLeague2 – 2Mark Taylor, Tony Forster
16/11/1996BodiamAwayHastings F A Intermediate Cup 2nd Round0 – 3
30/11/1996Wadhurst UnitedAwayEast Sussex Challenge Cup 1st Round0 – 15
28/12/1996Punnetts TownHomeLeague3 – 2Paul Milton, Ian Carter, Bob Baker
25/1/1997WestfieldHomeLeague1 – 5Bob Baker
1/2/1997Eastbourne FishermenAwayLeague2 – 1Paul Milton, Karl Tarrant
8/2/1997Eastbourne FishermenHomeLeague2 – 2Steve Fuller 2
22/2/1997Wadhurst UnitedHomeLeague0 – 9
1/3/1997Willingdon AthleticHomeLeague2 – 3Bob Baker 2
15/3/1997WestfieldAwayLeague1 – 3Own Goal
29/3/1997Hollington UnitedAwayLeague3 – 1Jim Taberman, Karl Tarrant, Ian Carter
5/4/1997Wadhurst UnitedAwayLeague1 – 5Steve Fuller
9/4/1997Rock-a-NoreHomeLeague0 – 0
23/4/1997Rock-a-NoreAwayLeague1 – 4Jamie Deroe

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

2ND TEAM

The second team also had what might be termed a slow start but picked up sufficient points either side of Christmas to ensure that relegation was never a real danger. When able to field a full-strength side, the team looked as good as any in the division – it’s potential underlined by the victory in the Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup over Wadhurst United II who were three leagues higher. The 2nd XI was possibly only a couple of players short of being a trophy winning side which represented a vast improvement in a short space of time and manager Rick Fuller must take a lot of credit for this. Mark Taylor with 13 goals finished as leading scorer for the second team.

For the second successive year it was necessary for the East Sussex League to reorganise the divisions due to teams withdrawing and new clubs coming into the League. Once again this benefited the 2nd XI with the side being moved up to Division Six after the restructuring.

2ND TEAM PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
14/9/1996Claverham IIAwayLeague2 – 4Russell Price, Rick Fuller
21/9/1996Battle Rangers IIHomeLeague1 – 0Steve Beale
28/9/1996Robertsbridge United IIAwayEast Sussex League President’s Cup 1st Round2 – 4Steve Beale, Rick Fuller
5/10/1996Claverham IIHomeLeague1 – 2Steve Fuller
12/10/1996MayfieldHomeHastings F A Junior Cup 2nd Round1 – 2Rick Fuller
19/10/1996Silverhill RangersHomeHastings F A Lower Divisions Cup 1st Round1 – 2Rick Fuller
26/10/1996Wadhurst United IIAwayRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 1st Round1 – 0Dave Harding
2/11/1996Cranbrook Town IIHomeLeague4 – 4Steve Beale, Robin Frith, Steve Fuller, Stephen Crisford
16/11/1996Punnetts Town IIAwayLeague1 – 4Stephen Crisford
23/11/1996Cranbrook Town IIAwayLeague2 – 7Paul Milton, Steve Beale
30/11/1996Hailsham Town IIIAwayRobertsbridge Charity Junior Cup 2nd Round0 – 3
7/12/1996Battle Rangers IIAwayLeague1 – 1Robin Frith
14/12/1996Iden IIIHomeLeague5 – 2Mark Taylor 3, Russell Drew, Tony Forster
18/1/1997Punnetts Town IIHomeLeague3 – 1Mark Taylor 2, Steve Fuller
25/1/1997Pebsham Sibex IIIAwayLeague1 – 3Troy Whyborne
1/2/1997Westfield IIIHomeLeague2 – 2Mark Taylor, Tom Churchyard
8/2/1997FirehillsAwayLeague4 – 1Mark Taylor 3, Robin Frith
15/2/1997Little Common Albion IIIHomeLeague2 – 7Stephen Crisford, Mark Taylor
22/2/1997Little Common Albion IIIAwayLeague1 – 5Mark Taylor
1/3/1997Iden IIIAwayLeague2 – 2Jamie Deroe, Robin Frith
8/3/1997Hillcrest IIAwayLeague3 – 2Mark Taylor 2, Nick Bellhouse
15/3/1997Hillcrest IIHomeLeague3 – 0Robin Frith 2, Stephen Crisford
22/3/1997Pebsham Sibex IIIHomeLeague1 – 4Stephen Crisford
29/3/1997FirehillsHomeLeague1 – 2Keith Swallow
19/4/1997Westfield IIIAwayLeague0 – 5

VETERANS

The veterans reached the final of the Hastings F A Veterans Cup for the second season in a row and were again beaten by Hollington United Veterans. The defeat was a great disappointment, particularly as the side were ahead at half-time. However, this should not detract from another good performance in the competition in which the veterans put ten goals past Westfield Veterans without reply and scored another seven against Hooe Sports Veterans in the semi-final.

The team that contested the final was – Trevor Hoath, Derek French, Michael Hambridge, Andrew Dunlop, Mick Booker, Steve Beale, Martin Tytherleigh, Steve Tytherleigh, Bob Baker, Paul Milton, Terry Ivemy. Substitutes – Keith Swallow, Richard Forrest, Chris Morrell and Rick Fuller (not used).

VETERANS PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
26/10/1996Upminster VeteransHomeA F A Open Veterans Cup Preliminary Round7 – 1Bob Baker 2, Nick Griffen, Andrew Dunlop, Terry Ivemy, Steve Beale
16/11/1996Port of London Authority VeteransHomeA F A Open Veterans Cup 1st Round0 – 7
11/4/1997Battle Rangers VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Cup1 – 1Bob Baker
18/4/1997Westfield VeteransAwayHastings F A Veterans Cup10 – 0
25/4/1997Hooe Sports VeteransHomeHastings F A Veterans Cup Semi-Final7 – 1Steve Beale 3, Paul Milton 2, Martin Tytherleigh, Chris Morrell
2/5/1997Hollington United VeteransNeutral<Hastings F A Veterans Cup Final1 – 4Own Goal

NEWSPAPER REPORT

SEMI-VETERANS

A semi-veterans team, with goalkeeper Rob Wiley being the only non-veterans, contested a friendly match with Old Centmodians Veterans as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations at the end of May.

The side included a number of club stalwarts including Chris Ades, Colin McPhail and George Potter.

SEMI-VETERANS PLAYING RECORD

DATEOPPONENTSVENUECOMPETITIONRESULTGOAL SCORERS
31/5/1997Old Centmodians VeteransHome60th Anniversary Match1 – 0Martin Tytherleigh

SEASON AWARDS

60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Icklesham Recreation Ground and The High Beech Hotel, St Leonards-on-Sea – Saturday, 31st May 1997

A celebration marking 60 years of the club was held on Saturday, 31st May 1997 with an inter-club friendly football match at Icklesham Recreation Ground followed by a veterans team (with the exception of goalkeeper Rob Wiley) taking on Old Centmodians Veterans.

The event moved to the High Beech Hotel in St Leonards in the evening for a get together attended by over a hundred past and present players, their partners and guests and included representatives from every decade of the club.

The end of season presentation evening was combined with the sixtieth anniversary celebrations. The first team Player’s Player of the Year award went to the man who counted all the votes – Martin Tytherleigh with the Manager’s Player of the Year trophy going to Russell Drew. Mark Taylor and Jamie Deroe won the respective second team awards. Karl Tarrant was presented with the Bert Glazier Cup.

GENERAL MATTERS

After the initial teething problems following the levelling work, the pitch had now settled down well and was attracting many favourable comments.

The Annual General Meeting at the end of the club’s sixtieth season was held at the Robin Hood in Icklesham on Friday, 27th June 1997.

CLUB OFFICIALS